The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-28

washington, ID. u, september IA, 1881.
Messrs. II. G. Gooding, Chairman, Alexan-
der Gilchust, ]. S. Buchanan, James NJ.
Shackelford, W. ]. Wood, Lee Howell,
Committee, Evansville, Indiana
Gentlemen: have received your favor
of August LIST. inviting me 10 be present
upon the occasion OF the reunion of the
Blue and Gray at Evansville, Indiana, I'M
der the auspices OF Farrsgut Post No. q Of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
1t would have afforded me peculiar sat-
isfaction to have been able to be with you
on the occasion referred to. More than a
quarter of a century ago, during part of
May and June of 1861, L, being then Ser
geant Major Of the 18th Indiana, was in
camp adjoining your town. There We first
knew wars dread alarm; there we tnrnsd
our wondering eyes to Kentucky's peace
full shore and thought with amazement of
the possibility of its ever becoming hos
tile frontier. From the peaceful waters
edge green pillows of forest rolled up aud
away into peaceful SKY and under sun.
Nv American Heaven. Brothers dwell Oh
either side of the beautiful river. 1 re-
member well the awful clamor that arose
when our first challenging gun was fired
across the channel of ths Ohio aud In front
of an American vessel loaded with the
wares and goods OF people who had as
yet no comprehension that the native
highways of the continent were to
be interrupted by armed men.
remember the overwhelming sur
prise and anger and grief with which
the captains of those boats thus in
terTupted in their way, rounded to
and checked in their course, referred to
their charters and to the American flag at
the fore, and claimed immunity from any
interruption, search or seizure. / remem-
her how unuTterably strange to all, the Off
Ger in command, the cannoneers, the troops,
the citizens these proceedings we're. l re-
member what speculations arose of the long
possibilities, of results to follow-the -sug-
gestion that possibly q confederscy might
he established which would from inevita-
bic force have made the Ohio its northern
line, although Kentucky stood firm as her
own hills in defense of the Federal flag.
And the figure is not inapt, for as granite
mountains are shaken by earthquake
forces, 50 in the great coDvulsions that fol-
lowed, it was the fate of Kentucky to con-
tribute of her rarest blood, the best life, the
Doblest youth of her chosen families, to
both sides of the Ireat Struggle. Specula-
lions and arguments concerning the situs-
ton were often held in the camps ia those
early days in the neighborhood of your
CITY, and l say again ii would have afford.
ed me peculiar pleasure to have stood in
the midst of your prosperous and growing
community drawing It's wealth, its family
ties, It's social relations, its every prosperi-
ty and development. alike from both sides
of the Ohio, and knitting the borders of
two great states close together with the
golden skeins OF fraternity, interest and
comnerce-to have seen how after the
lapse OF quarter of a century the last fear
for the republic has died away-the last
threat long since forgotten-a great pros
perity sprung up in the track of desolation,
and the children of men who confronted
each other in arms united in business and
in matrimony-the last disturbing element
OF sectional difference removed-no more
of the fires of war left than just such as the
shriveled hands OF hate can rake from the
eshes of an age-so few and feeble, thank
God. that the very breath of malignancy
cannot blow them into the flame. / would
like to see in this first output of war that
reunion in the forms of the blue and
gray, which in fact has steadily progressed
through all the years since the war, which
has grown with tina seasons and Widene3
with the years. Fraternity, gentlemen, is
not created. by resolution; loyalty is not
born by an act of Congress; charity cannot
be spoken into existence; but loyalty, fra
ternity ard charity. are the outgrowths of
8 common cause and government, of mu-
tual interests and of mutual regard for the
rights Of each other and all for all-all
measured and summed up by the word
Patriotism" The patriotism of the Amer.
lean soldier is not alone a matter of birth
place; but in addition to the sacred ties of
the cradle there comes the devotion which
is laid upon the son OF q country when he
believes and is taught in the household cir
Gle, in the school, in the forum, from the
pulpit, by the press, by the great course of
events, that the destiny of his country is
worth Its grandeur, and cannot be fulfilled
save by its united power-then is born in
him that strange feeling which takes the
unknown man from the quiet of the fire.
side, the seclusion and peace of an un6ie-
turbed locality, and puts him without
hope of reward, without the stimulus OF am
bition in the front ranks of fighting men,
unnamed-a forgotten atom in the vast
ranks of armies, prepared to endure pri-
vations, imprisonment, fatigue, suffering
yes, death itself. This patriotism would
brook no denial, stood daunted at no dam
ger, appalled, at no disaster. which was bot
toned upon no spirit of greed of conquest
or hate-this patriotism flaming with the
Hottest purposes of the human soul, over
came all opposition, conquered all resist
ance, and in the end received the submis.
sion of men who with equal fervor and
bravery had opposed the national arms.
This spirit of patriotism was aud is satisfied
with the restoration of the Union and the
establishment of the legitimate results of
its great war. 1t never viii be satisfied
with less-it will tolerate no baking Of its
high purposes It will never consent that
one single substantial and essential fruit
of national victory should be foregone but
on the other hand it receives
back into the federal fold-beck to the fair
enterprise Of brethren-back to all the
peaceful pursuits of life-every returning
citizen aud brother who wore the gray. II
opens mp to its defeated foemen all the
avenues OF wealth, prosperity, power, honor,
smolument and regard. Over the graves of
war it grows the grass of forgiveness 1t
turns its back resolutely upon everything
which In politics, In social lie, or IN any
of the varied affairs of existence would
arouse a single dormant passion of war.
wish for your reunion the greatest sue
cess. hope that under the old flag every
man whe wore the gray will feel that the
light of its stars is benignapt-its protec-
ton frlple-itH service honorable beyond
compare. 1 know that in its support there
would be one common assembly from gulf
to lake and from border to border and that
in the event OF the sad necessity OF war the
only emulation would be as to who from
the south or north would stand front in the
great ranks that should support 1t. And
as time shall pass and new generations take
the place of the old, may there be no bitter
or estranging recollections of the great civil
war. From the bloody mists and clouds oil
the four and q half years of fratricidal
struggle there has emerged the admsntine
and indestructible fabric now assured, oil